Adjustable shade.



S. R. MENSSEN.

ADJUSTABLE SHADE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15. 1915.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

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s. R. MENSSEN. ADJUSTABLE SHADE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I5, 1915.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

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SIEBOLD'R. MENSSEN, OF PLATTE CENTER, NEBRASKA.

ADJUSTABLE SHADE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1,1916.

Application filed May 15, 1915. Serial No. 28,362.

, To all whom it may concern:

' lamp may v I production Be it known that I, SIEBoLD R. MENssEN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Platte Center, in the county of Platte and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Shades, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. 1

This invention relates to an adjustable shade, which are adapted to be applied'to'electric light sockets for formingsimple and efficient shades for the globe carried by the socket.

Another object of this invention is the of a simple and eflicient adjustable shade which is so formed as to be provided with a plurality of adjustable wings which may be swung to an adjusted set position, whereby the light from the electric be thrown at desired angles throughout the room, or may be practically entirely shielded by the downward movement of the wings.

Another object of this invention is the production of a simple and eflicient adjustable shade for'electric lights which may be easily attached to the socket and which is provided with a simple and efficient spring means for positively retaining the adjustable wings in a set position.

With these and other objects in view this invention consists of certain novel combinations, constructions, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the adjustable shade showing the wings in a closed position. Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2, of Fig. 1

' looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3

is a detail perspective view of one of the wings. Fig. a is a fragmentary horizontal section through one of the wings illustrating the manner in which the same is carried by the supporting ring. Fig. 5 isa vertical section through one of the wings showing the same carried by the supporting ring. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the supportingring. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through the supporting ringv showing the same mounted upon a socket. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the springframe. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of a certain spring usedin connection with this device. Fig. 10 is a plan, viewfof'the'blank and has special reference to shades from which the housing of one of the wings is formed. Fig. 11 is a plan view of a slightly modified form of the invention. Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view of the supporting ring used in connection with the device as shown in Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawings by numerals it will be seen that each adjustable wing comprises a body 1. It is, of course, obvious that any shape or form ofwing may be employed, but it is preferable to use the form as herein disclosed. The body 1 of'each wing has an extension 2 formed upon its upper end, and this extension 2 is adapted to be bent on the scored lines 3 so as to allow the free end 4: of'the extension 2 to rest upon the body 1 and be secured by any suitable means, such as for instance solder. The cars 5 are also formed integral upon the side edges of the extension 2 as clearly shown in Fig. 10. These ears 5 are bent upon the scored lines 6 so asv to extend in parallel spaced relation to each other and to form closures for the end portions of the folded extension 2 as shown in Fig. 3. It will be seen that by folding the extension 2 and the ears 5 as above described, a very eflicient housing has been provided as disclosed in Fig. 3.

The spring frame 6 used in connection with each adjustable wing is formed froma single strand of resilient wire and comprises a rectangular body 7. This body 7 has the free ends 8 thereof terminating at spaced distances apart as will be seen by referring to Fig. 8. These ends 8 are adapted to pass through the apertures 9 formed in the ears 5 for the purpose of supporting the adjustable Wing. A flat spring 1O is carried within the casing formed by the extension 2 and the ears 5 so as to have its angular ends 11 bear upon the inner portions of the ears 5 for urging the same outwardly from engagementwith the side edges of the folded portions of the extension 2. The angular ends 11 are also provided with apertures 12 which I are adapted to register with the apertures 9 formed in the ears 5 .for facilitating the passing of the ends 8 of the spring frame 7 therethrough. By having the ears 5 urged outwardly by the springlO, it will beseen that the side portions, of the rectangular bodyfof the springframe will frictionally engage the ears. In order to counterbalance the Weight of the body 1, a weight 13 may be secured to the inner portions of the extension 2 as shown in Fig. 10 and in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Since this weight is positioned to one side of the pivot formed by the ends 8 of the spring frame, the weight of the body 1 will be counterbalanced and, therefore, considerable strain upon the side portions of the spring frame will be reduced.

The supporting ring 14 as shown in Fig. 6, is used in connection with this invention and is adapted to fit upon the socket 15 of the electric light. A plurality of set screws 16 pass through this ring 14 so as to engage the outer portions of the socket 15 and thereby retain the ring'lal in a set position upon the socket 15. This ring is carried upon the socket so as to allow the electric bulb or light to extend in its normal position without the adjustable shade. A number of vertical openings 17 are formed so as to extend through the ring lt intermediate the several set screws 16 as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7. Each spring frame 7 V has the parallel portions18 terminating in a widened loop 19 as will be seen by referring to Fig. 8. These-loops 19 are adapted to be passed'downwardly through the vertical openings 17 so as to allow the portions 18 to rest upon the upper surfaces of the ring 14 as will be seen by referring to Fig. 2. Since the loops 19 are comparatively wide at their lower ends, a frictional engagement is produced between the loops 19 and the ring 14 which will prevent the accidental displacement of the spring frames after the same have been placed in their correct positions upon the ring 14.

In assembling the device the ring 14: is first placed in position, and then the set screws 16 may be adjusted for retaining the v ring upon the socket 15. The electric bulb may then be placed in engagement with the soclgejg The loops 19 are then passed downwardlyinto the vertical openings 17 formed in the ring 14 so as to be positively retained as heretofore described. The wings 1 may then be swung to any desired position as disclosed in full lines in Fig. 1 or as shown in either Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 in dotted lines. When the wings are swung as shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2, the light from the electric lamp will be efiiciently screened so as to prevent practically all of the light from shining around the side portions of the wings. When, however, the wings are swung to any degree, such as for instance as shown in dotted ines, the shade will allow the light to be thrown to cover a desired area as shining around the side edges and past the lower end portions of the wings.

It should be noted that the normal action of the spring 10 upon the ears 5 will cause a very efficient binding action between these ears and the spring frame, whereby the wings will be held in a set position irrespective'of the angles to which the sameare swung.

By referring to Figs. 11 and 12 it will be seen that the wings comprise a body 1 which are formed in all respects similar to the device as disclosed in the prefererd form of the invention. The ring 20, however, has its end portions 21 formed so as to normally remain at a spaced distance apart, whereby the ring may be easily slipped over the socket 15 as is shown in Fig. 11 without the necessity of removing thevbulb or electric light for the urpose of aflixing the adjustable shade. This ring 20 is also provided with the vertical openings 17 which are adapted to receive the usual loops 19 of the spring frame. In all other respects the modified form of this invention is constructed similar and operates in a like manner to the prefererd form of the invention. It is, of course, obvious that any number of wings may be used, such for instance as three more or less without departing from the spirit of the invention, inasmuch as the construction of each structure will be in all respects similar to the prefererd form of the invention as herein disclosed. therefore, desired to include in this invention all such structures as properly come within the scope of the claims, and it is, therefore, not intended to limit the device to the specific construction herein disclosed.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a verv simple and efiicient adjustable shade has been produced which may be very quickly and efficiently attached to an electric socket in such a manner as to allow the adjustable wings to be swung to any desired position and be retained in a set position so as to form a shade or screen as the occasion may require.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting ring, said ring being adapted to be carried upon an electric socket, said ring provided with a plurality of vertical openings, spring frames carried by said ring and fitting within said open ings, and wings adjustably secured to. said spring frames, said wings being adapted to be swung to a desired position for forming a shade or screen for an electric light carried by said socket.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting ring having a plurality of vertical openings, said ring being adapted to be carried by an electric socket, a plurality of spring frames engaging said ring, each of said frames provided with a loop having an enlarged lower portion, said loops being adapted to extend into said vertical openings so as to form a binding engagement for preventing the accidental displacement of said frames, and wing members pivotally and adjustably secured to said frames for constituting a shield or shade for a light carried by said socket.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting ring having a plurality of vertical openings, said ring being adapted to be carried by an electric socket, a plurality of spring frames'mounted upon said ring, each of said frames com prising a rectangular body having free end portions, each of said bodies also provided with parallel portions terminating in an enlarged loop, said loops being adapted to extend into said vertical openings so as to form a binding action between said loops and rings, thereby preventing the accidental displacement of said frames, a plurality of wings pivotally mounted upon said ends of said spring frames, and means for retaining said wings in an adjusted set position with said spring frames whereby said wings may be swung so as to constitute a shield or a shade for an electric light carried by said socket.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting ring, said ring being adapted to be carried by an electric socket, a plurality of spring frames detachably engaging said rin a plurality of wings mounted upon said spring frames, each of said wings comprising a body, a

casing formed upon said body, means for normally urging said casing into binding engagement with portions of one of said spring frames whereby said Wings will be retained in an adjustable set position for constituting a shield or a shade for a light carried by said socket.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting ring, said ring being adapted to be carried by an electric socket, a plurality of spring frames carried by said socket carried by said ring, a plurality of wings carried by said spring frames each of said win 's com risin a 7 a 2: body, an extension formed upon said body Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the and being bent to form a casing, earsformed upon the side edges of said extension, said ears being adapted to engage the side portions of said spring frames, means for iolding said wings in binding engagement with said spring frames, and said spring frames being adapted to be swung to a set position and to be retained in this position for formingeither a shield or a shade for an electric light carried by said socket.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting ring, said ring being adapted to be carried by an electric socket, a plurality of spring frames carried by said ring, said frames comprising rectangular bodies terminating in spaced ends, a plurality of wings carried by-said spring frames, each of said wings comprising a body having an extension bent to form a casing, ears formed upon said extension so as to extend in parallel relation to each other, said ears bearing upon the side portions of said spring frame, the ends of each spring frame extending through said ears for forming a pivot for each wing, a flat spring carried within said casing and being mounted upon the ends of said spring frame so as to urge an outward pressure uponsaid ears whereby said cars will be held in a binding engagement with the side portions of said spring frame, whereby when said wings are swung to a set position they will be retained against accidental movement thereby forming a shield or a shade for an electric lamp carried by said socket, and a weight carried within each of said casings for counterbalancing the weight of said body of each wing, thereby relieving each spring frame of considerable strain caused by retaining the particular wing in a .set position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

' SIEBOLD R. MENSSEN.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

